Literacy Matters Vol. 23 Winter 2023

Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors: A Children’s Literature Review Column for Teachers

by Ashley Berry, Hailey Bowen, Ashlyn Bryant, Sarah Katherine Coker, Danielle Edwards, Becca Greene, Emily Seay, Madason Whitaker, Dorsey Winchester, Ally Windham, and Lauren Zalud

The story focuses on a Muslim family living in the United States. While most of the United States is not a part of the Muslim culture, Amira and her brother Ziyad are excited to celebrate their Muslim holiday, Eid, with their family. Also, the illustrations share Amira’s family practices, including Mehndi cone art, painted on Amira’s hands. Also, the reader sees a variety of outfits to wear to Eid. These details allow the reader to expand their knowledge about the customs of the Muslim culture. As the book continues, Amira’s mother tells her and Ziyad that they can stay home from school since the holiday is an important day to them. They both jump in excitement until Amira glances over at a reminder that is hanging up that says school picture day is tomorrow! But…Amira will not be at school. How could Amira miss picture day just to be forgotten by the rest of her class? As you continue reading, you will learn how Amira celebrates Eid and deals with the emotions of missing picture day at school. The reader will be drawn in by the exciting plot, joyful illustrations, and intricate details. You will want Amira’s Picture Day added to your classroom library!

As we think about Bishop’s (1990) concept of windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors, we invite teachers to consider ways they provide access to diverse children’s literature in their classrooms. In this column, eleven Early Childhood and Elementary Education preservice teachers share their reviews of picturebooks that they hope will affirm your students’ identities or open them up to a world beyond themselves and their experiences. Soul Food Sunday Bingham,Winsome. (2021). Illus. by C. G. Esperanza. Unpaged. Abrams Books for Young Readers. 978 1-4197-4771-7. $17.99 (Primary) —AllyWindham As you read Soul Food Sunday, a Coretta Scott King honor book, you will find yourself immersed in the comfortable warmth of a gathering at Granny’s house. Painted in beaming bold oils, our young narrator walks us through the ins and outs of a Sunday full of soul food, from cousins playing while awaiting their meal to Roscoe Ray watching the game, ready to grill chicken and ribs. These intentional colors radiate culture, tradition, and joy on each page. As the narrator reflects on the routines held on a soulful Sunday, he brings readers along to experience a special moment with his Granny, learning to cook with her for the first time. Together they prepare deliciously cheesy mac n’ cheese, freshly cleaned greens, perfectly grilled chicken and ribs, and a sweet surprise from our narrator to his Granny. Why these food items? Because it’s not a soul food Sunday without them. Not only does Soul Food Sunday welcome you in, but it also ends with the very mac n’ cheese recipe used by Granny, including an enticing end page depicting the baked pasta. As Granny would say, this is the best book you’ll read about soul food on a Sunday in all your life, and you won’t want to quit reading it! Take a dive in and enjoy Bingham’s writing and Esperanza’s vibrant depictions of a family’s hospitality that will leave you wanting a taste of soul food.

Literacy Matters Feature Article

Across the Bay Aponte, Carlos. (2019). Unpaged. Penguin Random House. 978 1524786625. $17.99 (Primary) —DorseyWinchester What does a real family look like? Does it have to have a mother and a father? Carlitos explores these questions in Carlos Aponte’s book Across the Bay, as he tries to find

his Papi in the Puerto Rican city of San Juan. Carlitos lives in a town called Cataño with his mother and Abuela, but “his family [doesn’t] look like the others.”He watches everyone else with their father and wonders where his Papi is. So, Carlitos decides to go on a solo expedition across the bay to San Juan to find his father there. Here, he meets a collection of people who try to help him on his quest, taking him across the city. Across the Bay is illustrated in beautiful, vibrant colors with bold outlines to help bring the story to life and showcase the beautiful Puerto Rican city. Carlos Aponte uses the weather within the illustrations to subtly demonstrate the sadness and frustration Carlitos feels as he searches for his father. Rainclouds get closer and closer to Carlitos the longer he looks, providing beautiful symbolism and linking the illustrations to the book’s plot. The stunning illustrations have earned this book a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Award in 2020, an award honoring a children’s book illustrator for showcasing Latino culture. Across the Bay was also placed on the American Library Service to Children Notable Children’s Book list in 2020 for being a high-quality and inclusive book. Children will love this book for

Amira’s Picture Day Faruqi, Reem. (2020). Illus. by Fahmida Azim. Unpaged. Holiday House Publisher. 978-0-8234 4019-1. $17.99 —Rebecca Greene Have you ever wondered about how other cultures celebrate holidays around the world? Have you ever had a friend celebrate a holiday you

were unfamiliar with?Well, this book will easily draw you in with the colorful and detailed pages describing Amira’s culture and traditions.

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